Dirigible of the rigid type.



, A. CLE MENT-BAYARD.

v DIRIGIBLE OF THE RIGWTYPE. I AFFLICATION FILED AUG. I4. 1915- 7 1,2 5,302. Patented May 7,1918

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WL'Z/zesses A. CLEMENT-BAYARD.

- 'DIRIGIBLEYOF-THE RIGID TYPE. APPLICATION FILED AUGJM I914.

Patented May 7, 1918.

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' APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4, 1914- I I I.

I Patented May 7,1918;

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPHE Cmimnnr BAYARD, a citizen ofthe Republic of France, residing in Levallois-Perret, Seine, France,-

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigibles of the Hi id Type, of which the following is a speci cation.

The present invention has for its object a dirigible of the rigid type, the girder of which isconstituted in such a manner that it will withstand the strains due toits .own weight when it rests upon two sup orts conveniently located at two points in ts length.- In combination with these conditions, it also relates to the employment of special devices for the deflation of the gas bal-loonets; means for rapidly removing the outer envelop from the girder; of laterally guying the girder throughout its entire length, and if necessary for preserving one or two inflated balloonets to contribute to maintaining the girder in its normal vertical position. The whole thus constituted has been established and combined in such a manner that it is 65 Figs. 15 and 16 are cross-sectional and e16 possible in case a storm should break when the airship is resting unprotected on the ground, to rotect it from the effect of wind capable of Ereaking it or of tearing it from its moorings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved girder;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof;

3 is a plan-view of the communication passage;

F ins. 4 and 5 are detailed views of shock absoi befs interposed between the car and the girder;

Fig. 6 is a detailed View of a shock absorber interposed between the car and the ground;

Figs. 7 and 8 represent a tearing bar side and front elevation respectively;

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevational and plan views respectively of portions of a dirigible, and details of tearing mechanism operable from the platform;

Figs. 11. and 12 areviews showing a crosssection and an elevation of a portion of a dirigible and details of the tearing mechanism operablefrom the ground;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing another form of tearing mechanism;

Fig. 14: is a diagram of a form of tearing lacing;

mechanism for the balloonets.

Specification 0! Letters Patent. 1 Patented play 7, 1918 Application filed August 14, 1914'. serial No. 856,814.

vational details respectively of drums for winding and unwinding the blinds; and

Figs. 17 and 18 are cross-sectional and elevational views respectively of deflating When a girder rests upon two supports, strains are produced in its various elements (uprights, diagonals; upper framework and lower framework); these are either compression or tension strains and their value is Well determined. The girder generally comprises elements whose constitution cannot be determined solely by the conditions of resistance; certain conditions necessitated by its employment should also be considered. It will be understood that it may comprise elements which, owing to the d1- mensions of their 'SCl)lO11,-W0llld be particularly suitable .for withstanding compression strains and that consequently it would be desirable, with a view to the minimum weight of the whole, to concentrate the said compression strains upon these elements; in this case the tension strains are reserved for the elements of reduced cross-section.

This is the case with the girder for rigid dirigibles forming the object of the present invention, and whichis represented in side elevation in Fig. 1 and in cross-section in Fig. 2. This girder is constituted in the fol lowing manner:

h The lower framework by the communication passage (1 extending throughout its entire length and represented in plan in Fig. 8.

The upper framework by light beams b.

The uprights by vertical pylons 0 located in the median plane.

The diagonals by wires or cables 03 and finally, the transverse rings located in the plane of the uprights by framework mem bers, preferably tubes 0, connected together and braced by a triangle system of wires and the framework of the girder, including the elements constituting the rings.

' WVhen it is desired that a girder complying with this description and whose balloonets are deflated should be able to rest upon any unleveled piece of grand upon points, practically speaking, considerable strains arise. The present invention consists in particular in assigning as positions for the two points of support, places which will localize the compression strains in the lower frame-work or communication passage.

In order to attain this result the following arrangements, which are given by way of example, may be adopted:

Two cars 11 containing the motor mechanisms are utilized for the points of support. These cars are of course designed to Withstand particular strains; they are pro vidcd with an appropriate supporting surface at the upper part upon which the girder rests.

The girder should be capable of withstanding strains due; to its own weight, to the weight of the envelops of the balloonets, to the weight of the fuel and of the ballast before it is discharged, to the Weight of the outer envelop, if, after it has been torn, it remains folded or rolled, to the weight of the cn'lpennage and of the rudders mounted at the rear, to the weight of the navigation and observation cabin located at the front extremity of the passage.

As will be understood, it is possible to arrange the supporting cars in such a manner that the upper framework is exposed to tension strains only, the lower fran'iework or passageway supporting the compression strains. This is an essential feature of the present invention and, to use mechanical terms, it may be said that the moments of ficxure from one end of the gil'der to the other would then have the same sign, of course with two maxima, plumb with the supports: it would also be possible to satisfy another condition, that of the minimum of strain and of Weight.

(liven these conditions, if on landing it be desired to protect the airship from a threatened storm, the following method is adopted:

The pneumatic shock absorbers or other landing devices ii are put out of action so that the cars rest directly upon the ground. The pneumatic. shock absorbers are constructcd in some suitable manner, three forms being indicated in section in Figs. 4:, 5 and 6: Figs. 4 and 5 relate to two construe tional. forms of shock absorber j (Fig. 1) interposed between the car and the girder and Fig. (5 relates to a form of the shock absorbers z interposed between the car and the ground. 7

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. et, the absorber is constituted by a pneumatic ring ninterposed between the bottom of the girder and the car and traversed by a rod 8 integral with the girder; this rod serves to eliminate the action of the shock absorber in the condition of repose, by bringing into' contact with it the threaded rod integral with the car, in causing it to rotate by means of the handwhecl it until the lower end of the rod 8 bears against the top of the said threaded rod.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5 a pneumatic ball r is interposed between the girder and the car; in acting by means of the hand wheel 2/, which. is screwed onto the threaded rod 6 the fork a: is caused to rise and fall in order to bring it into contact with the two rods 8 fixed beneath the girder.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 6 which relates to the shock absorber arranged at the bottom of the car, the pneumatic cushion r is surrounded by a frame 3/ which is lowered by means of oppositely threaded screws (1. to bring it into contact with the ground in such a nianncrthat by rotating the screws a the pneumatic cushion may be relieved of the Weight of the girder, while the airship is at rest.

By means of these devices, the shock absorbers j interposed between the beam and the cars are put out of action and the girder can be caused to bear directly upon the appropriate points of the support. Guying such as shown in Fig. 2 is then effected by means of cables fixed on either side of the girder and anchored to piles driven into the ground. 1

The girder can then, if desired, be freed from its outer envelop. With this object in view the envelop is provided with tearing devices ready for use. These devices may be analogous to the well known tearing bar of spherical balloons and are represented in Figs. land 8. arranged along the top and sides of the cylinder. Cords a and b attached in advance and adapted to be operated from the top ofthc dirigiblc and from the ground respectively, effect this tearing as indicated in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12. Funnels provided with stair-ways 0" aflord access to the top side for actuating the cords a When the panels of fabric have been released. the cords fixed to the upper generatrix of each half panel are pulled for the purpose of bringing the fabric to the ground and turning it over. It will of course be understood that the tearing devices above rcferrcd to may be replaced by other devices, such for example as that represented in Fig. 13 which consists of passing a lace Z altcrnately through eyelets m provided on the edges of the adjacent panels; this lace can be withdrawn by exerting pulling upon one of its ends. Another method consists of laces a sliding in loops 0 (Fig. 1st).

Instead of bringing the half panels to the ground, drums p and 9, represented. in Figs. 15 and 16', may be employed in the manner adopted for certain kinds of blinds; these drums permit of Winding 0r unwinding and in the latter case the outer envelop remains upon the girder when rolled or folded as diagrammatically represented in Figs. 15 and 16.

Finally, the balloonets are deflated in some suitable manner, for instance by means of a. tearing bar 1) as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. One or two of these balloonets may remain inflated to assist in maintaining the girder in the normal vertical position if this is necessary, and compatible with the velocity of the wind.

The dirigible thus prepared is able to re sist the efiects of the storm under better conditions than if it were allowed to remain in its normal state; the material will be preserved and the dirigible can again ascend when atmospheric conditions have enabled it to be reintlated either covered by its outer envelop or without it if necessary.

Claims:

1. In a dirigible of the rigid type, the combination with a longitudinally disposed framework comprising vertical pylons, diagonally disposed wires, rings disposed transversely of the framework, balloonets located between said rings, an envelop covering the ba'lloonets and rings, means for deflating the balloonets, and a tearing de vice for the envelop.

2. In a dirigible of the rigid type, the combination with a longitudinally disposed framework comprising vertical pylons, diagonally disposed wires, rings disposed transversely of the framework, balloonets disposed. between said rings, tearing devices for the balloonets, an envelop covering the balloonets, and tearing means for the said envelop.

3. In a dirigible of the rigid type, the

combination of a longitudinally disposed J framework comprising vertical pylons, agonally disposed wires, rings disposed transversely of the fran'iework, balloonets disposed between such rings and each having an individual envelop, individual deflating means for the balloonets, an envelop covering the rings and balloonets, and a tearii g; and stripping device for the said envelop is cated in position for external operation.

4-. In a dirigible of the rigid type, the combination of a longitudinally dispos rt. girder having an upper and a lower member, the lower member being relatively heavy and adapted to resist compression strains, and the upper member being relatively light and adapted to resist tension strains, and two supports disposed beneath the lower member and adapted to rest upon the ground.

5. A dirigible of the rigid type, cornpris ing a girder having a-lower compress member and an upper tension member, up" rights between these members, rings formed transversely of the girder and composed. of framework members and a triangular system of bracing wires, the lower member be as ing provided with two separated supports, baiioonets located between the said rings, individual deflating means for the balloonets, an envelop incasin'g the ballconets, and tearing and stripping means for the said en velop.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. i

, ADOLPHE CLEMENT-BAYARD.

Witnesses:

E. E. PALMER, GABRIEL Bnnmann. 

